Merlin (TV Series)

The Dragon's Call (2008)

Colin Morgan: Merlin

Photos 

Quotes 

• Merlin : Look, I told you you're an ass. I just didn't realize you were a royal one.

• Arthur : I warn you, I've been trained to kill since birth.

  Merlin : Wow, and how long have you been training to be a prat?

  Arthur : You can't address me like that.

  Merlin : Sorry. How long have you been training to be a prat, my lord?

• Merlin : If I can't use magic, I might as well die.

• Merlin : I've never had a friend who could be such an ass.

  Arthur Pendragon : Nor I one who could be so stupid.

• Arthur : How's your knee walking coming along? Oh don't run away!

  Merlin : From you?

  Arthur : Oh thank God, I thought you were deaf as well as dumb.

• Merlin : There must be another Arthur, because this one's an idiot.

  The Dragon : Perhaps it's your destiny to change that.

• Arthur Pendragon : I could take you apart with one blow.

  Merlin : I could take you apart with less than that.

• Morgana : [unaware Merlin has entered her chambers]  You know, I've been thinking about Arthur. I wouldn't touch him with a lance pole.

  [undressing behind a room divider] 

  Morgana : Pass me that dress, will you, Gwen?

  [not sure what to do, he follows her instructions] 

  Morgana : I mean, the man's a total jester. Just because I'm the king's ward, that doesn't mean I have to accompany him to the feast, does it?

  [getting no response] 

  Morgana : Well, does it?

  Merlin : [high-pitched voice]  Mm-mm.

  Morgana : If he wants me to go, then he should invite me. And he hasn't. So do you know what that means?

  Merlin : Mm-mm.

  Morgana : Where are you?

  Merlin : [hiding his face]  Here.

  Morgana : It means I'm going by myself.

  [he turns to leave] 

  Morgana : I need some help with this fastening. Gwen?

  Gwen : [entering]  I'm here.

  [relieved to see her, Merlin leaves] 

  Morgana : So, it's whether I wear this little tease... or give them a night they'll really remember.

• Gwen : I'm Gwenhwyfer, but most people call me Gwen. I'm the Lady Morgana's maid.

  Merlin : Right. Well, I'm Merlin.

  [locked in a stock, he awkwardly shakes hands] 

  Merlin : Although most people just call me "idiot".

  Gwen : [having witnessed his first encounter with Arthur]  No, no, no, I saw what you did. You're so brave.

  Merlin : It was stupid.

  Gwen : Well, I'm glad you walked away. You weren't gonna beat him.

  Merlin : Oh, I... I could beat him.

  Gwen : You think? Because you don't look like one of these big muscly kind of fellows.

  Merlin : [a little insulted]  Thanks.

  Gwen : No! No. I'm sure you're stronger than you look.

• Merlin : You've had your fun, my friend.

  Arthur Pendragon : Do I know you?

  Merlin : [offering a handshake]  Uh, I'm Merlin.

  Arthur Pendragon : So I don't know you.

  Merlin : No.

  Arthur Pendragon : Yet you called me "friend."

  Merlin : That was my mistake.

  Arthur Pendragon : Yes, I think so.

• Gaius : So, how is it you know magic?

  Merlin : I don't!

  Gaius : Where did you study? Answer me!

  Merlin : I-I've never studied magic or-or been taught.

  Gaius : Are you lying to me, boy?

  Merlin : What do you want me to say?

  Gaius : The truth.

  Merlin : I was born like this.

  Gaius : That's impossible. Who are you?

  Merlin : [taking off his knapsack]  Oh, um... I have this letter. There.

  Gaius : I... I don't have my glasses.

  Merlin : I'm Merlin.

  Gaius : [recognizing his name]  Hunith's son.

  Merlin : Yes.

  Gaius : But you're not meant to be here 'til Wednesday.

  Merlin : It is Wednesday.

• Arthur Pendragon : Tell me, Merlin, do you know how to walk on your knees?

  Merlin : No.

  Arthur Pendragon : Would you like me to help you?

  Merlin : I wouldn't if I were you.

  Arthur Pendragon : Why? What are you gonna do to me?

  Merlin : You have no idea.

  Arthur Pendragon : Be my guest. Come on.

  [offering himself as a target] 

  Arthur Pendragon : Come on! Come on. Come on.

  [grabbing Merlin's arm as he throws a punch and twisting it up behind his back] 

  Arthur Pendragon : I'll have you thrown in jail for that.

  Merlin : Who do you think you are, the king?

  Arthur Pendragon : No, I'm his son, Arthur.

• Gaius : [after Merlin uses magic to break his fall]  What did you just do?

  Merlin : Um...

  Gaius : Tell me.

  Merlin : Well, I... I have no idea what happened.

  Gaius : If anyone had seen that...

  Merlin : Oh, no, that... that was... that was nothing to do with me. That-that...

  Gaius : I know what it was. I just want to know where you learned how to do it.

• Gaius : [spilling a bucket of water to test Merlin's powers]  How did you do that? Did you incant a spell in your mind?

  Merlin : I don't know any spells.

  Gaius : So what did you do? There must be something.

  Merlin : It just happens.

  Gaius : Well, we'd better keep you out of trouble.

• Gwen : It's great you stood up to him.

  Merlin : You think so?

  Gwen : Arthur's a bully, and everyone thought you were a real hero.

  Merlin : Oh, yeah?

  Gwen : Mm-hmm.

  Merlin : [more children show up to throw fruit at him]  Oh, excuse me, Gwenhwyfer, my fans are waiting.

• Merlin : Did you ever study magic?

  Gaius : Uther banned all such work 20 years ago.

  Merlin : Why?

  Gaius : People used magic for the wrong end at that time. It threw the natural order into chaos. Uther made it his mission to destroy everything from back then, even the dragons.

  Merlin : What, all of them?

  Gaius : There was one dragon he chose not to kill; he kept it as an example. He imprisoned it in a cave deep beneath the castle where no one can free it.

• Merlin : You don't know why I was born like this, do you?

  Gaius : No.

  Merlin : I'm not a monster, am I?

  Gaius : Don't ever think that.

  Merlin : But then why am I like this? Please, I need to know why.

  Gaius : Maybe there's someone with more knowledge than me.

  Merlin : If you can't tell me, no one can.

• Gaius : You never cease to amaze me. The one thing that someone like you should do is keep your head down, and what do you do? You behave like an idiot.

  Merlin : I'm sorry.

  Gaius : You're lucky. I managed to pull a few strings to get you released.

  Merlin : Oh, thank you! Thank you!

  [seeing his look] 

  Merlin : I won't forget this.

  Gaius : Well, there is a small price to pay.

  Merlin : [outside, he's locked in a stock and children throw rotting fruit at him]  Oh, God.

• Gaius : How could you be so foolish?

  Merlin : He needed to be taught a lesson.

  Gaius : Magic must be studied, mastered, and used for good, not for idiotic pranks.

  Merlin : What is there to master? I could move objects like that before I could talk.

  Gaius : Then by now, you should know how to control yourself.

• Merlin : I know you're still angry with me.

  Gaius : Your mother asked me to look after you.

  Merlin : Yes.

  Gaius : What did your mother say to you about your gifts?

  Merlin : Well, that I was special.

  Gaius : You are special, the likes of which I've never seen before.

  Merlin : What do you mean?

  Gaius : Well, magic requires incantations, spells; it takes years to study. What I saw you do was... elemental, instinctive.

  Merlin : What's the point if it can't be used?

  Gaius : That, I do not know. You are a question that has never been posed before, Merlin.

• The Dragon : Your gift, Merlin, was given to you for a reason.

  Merlin : So there is a reason?

  The Dragon : Arthur is the once and future king who will unite the land of Albion.

  Merlin : Right.

  The Dragon : But he faces many threats from friend and foe alike.

  Merlin : I don't see what this has to do with me.

  The Dragon : Everything. Without you, Arthur will never succeed. Without you, there will be no Albion.

• Uther Pendragon : You saved my boy's life. A debt must be repaid.

  Merlin : Oh, well...

  Uther Pendragon : Don't be so modest. You shall be rewarded.

  Merlin : No, honestly, you don't have to, Your Highness.

  Uther Pendragon : No, absolutely. This merits something quite special.

• Gaius : Have you seen the state of this room?

  Merlin : It just happens.

  Gaius : By magic?

  Merlin : Yeah.

  Gaius : Yes. Well, you can clear it up without magic. Then I want you to get some herbs; henbane, wormwood, and sorrel. And deliver this to Morgana.

  [giving him a vial of potion] 

  Gaius : Poor girl's suffering from nightmares.

  Merlin : [an article of clothing is thrown at him]  I know the feeling.

• Gaius : Seems you're a hero.

  Merlin : Hard to believe, isn't it?

  Gaius : No. I knew it from the moment I met you. Well, you saved my life, remember?

  Merlin : But that was magic.

  Gaius : And now it seems we've finally found a use for it.

  Merlin : What do you mean?

  Gaius : I saw how you saved Arthur's life.

  Merlin : Ah, no.

  Gaius : Perhaps that's its purpose.

  Merlin : My destiny.

• Gwen : [Merlin stares at Morgana]  She looks great, doesn't she?

  Merlin : Yeah.

  Gwen : Some people are just born to be Queen.

  Merlin : No.

  Gwen : I hope so. One day. Not that I'd want to be her. Who'd want to marry Arthur?

  Merlin : Oh, come on, Gwen. I thought you liked those real rough, tough, save-the-world kind of men.

  Gwen : No, I like much more ordinary men like you.

  Merlin : Gwen, believe me, I'm not ordinary.

  Gwen : No, I didn't mean you. Obviously. Not you. But just, you know, I like much more ordinary men... *like* you.

• Gaius : This book was given to me when I was your age. But I have a feeling it will be of more use to you than it was for me.

  Merlin : [opening and flipping through it]  But this is a book of magic.

  Gaius : Which is why you must keep it hidden.

  Merlin : I will study every word.